Fish alarm

ABSTRACT

A fishing accessory includes an outer tubular body pivotally mounting an inner spring biased tubular socket having an open upper end projecting through an open upper end of the body to receive the handle of the fishing rod in a manner such that a tug on the fishing line tends to rotate the socket from its normal position against the spring bias on the socket. The body contains an electrical signalling circuit for signalling this rotation of the socket from normal position to alert the fisherman of a fish bite. The disclosed inventive embodiment has a ground stake removably attached to the body for supporting the latter in a generally upright fishing position.

0 Minted giates Patent 1151 3,646,697

Jennings Mar. 7, 1972 [54] FISH ALARM Primary Examiner-Warner H. Camp[72] Inventor: George H. Jennings, 4821 North LaSena, A" d1 B BaldwinPark, Calif. 91706 [22] Filed: July 6, 1970 ABSTRACT [211 App}. 52,576 Afishing accessory includes an outer tubular body pivotally mounting aninner spring biased tubular socket having an open upper end projectingthrough an open upper end of the [52] US. Cl. ..43/l7, 43/212 body toreceive the handle of the fishing rod in a manner such [51] int. Cl...A01k 97/12 that a tug on the fishing line tends to rotate the socketfrom its [58] Field of Search "43/17, 16,2].2; 248/38 n rm l p i i nagains he spring bias on the socket. The body contains an electricalsignalling circuit for signalling this 5 References Cited rotation ofthesocket from normal position to alert the fisherman of a fish bite. Thedisclosed inventive embodiment has a UNITED STATES PATENTS ground stakeremovably attached to the body for supporting th ltt ll tf h' ti 13,359,672 12/1967 Schwartz et a1 ..43/17 6 a ennagenem y upngh mg on3,473,250 10/ 1969 Leckell ..43/l7 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures m ii Z644 75 w I ff J 74 ,2 j a /i 5 if i J r] r 1 if 4 r i 1 1x a Lee t 1 46Z4 I K I *2 it i' him i [74 k/ /4 2% w j4/ J4 w FISH ALARM BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto fishing equipment and more particularly to a fishing accessory forholding a fishing rod and signalling a bite on the fishing line.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Fishing is an extremely popular sportwhich is characterized by a constant demand for new fishing aids andaccessories of all kinds. One such accessory which appeals to manyfisherman is a fishing rod holder which both supports the fishing rod,thus relieving the fisherman of the tedious task of holding the rodwhile he waits for a strike, and signals a fish strike or bite on thefishing line. A variety of such fishing rod holders have been devised.Representative holders of this kind, for example, are disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,012,354; 3,156,997 and 3,473,250.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedfishing rod holder of the class described. This holder includes an outertubular body pivotally mounting an inner spring-biased tubular sockethaving an open upper end projecting through an open upper end of thebody to receive the handle of the fishing rod in a manner such that atug on the fishing line tends to rotate the socket from its normalposition against the spring bias on the socket. The body contains anelectrical signalling circuit for signalling this rotation of the socketfrom normal position to alert the fisherman of a fish bite. Thedisclosed inventive embodiment has a ground stake removably attached tothe body for supporting the latter in a generally upright fishingposition.

According to one feature of the invention, the open upper end of theholder socket is beveled to facilitate insertion of the fishing rodhandle into the socket. Another feature of the invention resides in aunique arrangement of the fish strike or bite signalling means whichcomprises an electrical signalling circuit including a battery holder inthe body which is readily accessible for battery replacement by removalof an end cap closing the lower end of the body. The spring bias on theholder socket is adjustable by turning an adjustment screw on the bodyto adjust the tugging force which must be exerted on the fishing line toactuate the fish bite signal. Another feature resides in theremovability of the holder ground stake from the body. This featurepermits the stake to be driven into hard ground by a hammer or the likewithout the danger of damage to the remainder of the holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of thepresent fishing accessory installed in fishing position and supporting afishing rod;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the acces- FIG. 3 isa section taken on line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the upper end of the accessory with partsbroken away for clarity; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention provides a fishingaccessory including an outer tubular body 12 having an open normallyupper end and an inner tubular socket 14 within the body having an opennormally upper end projecting through the open upper end of the body.The outer diameter of the socket is less than the inner diameter of thebody so that the socket fits quite loosely in the body. Attached, inthis case cemented, to opposite sides of the body 12 between its endsare a pair of coaxial pivot pins 16 which are joumaled inbores in thebody 12 closely adjacent the upper open end of the body. The outer endsof these pins are beaded to locate the socket centrally in the body, asshown in FIG. 5. Pivot pins 16 pivotally connect the socket l4 to thebody 12 on a transverse pivot axis of the body and socket.

Extending across the lower inner end of the socket I4 is a water barrierwall 18. This wall may be a disc cemented in place. Behind or below thewall 18 is a member 20, such as a rod or sleeve, which extendsdiametrically across the socket and has reduced ends 22 fitted withinholes in the socket wall. This member is located in the plane ofrotation of the socket l4 and has a longitudinal cavity or bore 24opening axially through the wall of the socket. Bore 24 receives theinner end of an adjustment setscrew 26 threaded in the wall of body 12,on a transverse axis of the body, and having an outer knurled handle 28by which the screw may be rotated. Positioned between and engaging theinner end of the screw 26 and the bottom wall 30 of bore 24 is acompression spring 32. Spring 32 yieldably urges the socket 14, aboutits pivot axis, to its normal position of FIGS. 2 and 4. The screw 26 isrotatable to adjust the spring bias on the socket and thereby the forcerequired to rotate the socket from its normal position against the biasof the spring. The screw 26 may be rotated to a fully closed or seatedposition, thus securing the socket against rotation relative to body 12,when this is desired, as when trolling.

Accessory 10 is equipped with means 34 for supporting the accessory inits generally upright fishing position of FIG. 1. In this position, theholder socket 14 is uppermost and opens upwardly to receive the handle36 of a fishing rod 38. According to a feature of the invention, theupper outer end of the socket is bevelled at 40, as shown, to facilitateinsertion of the handle into the socket and yet provide adequate supportfor the fishing rod. When the holder and fishing rod are in fishingposition, a tug on the fishing line 42 by a fish striking the bait (notshown) tends to rotate the socket 14 on its pivot axis from its normalposition of FIGS. 2 and 4 against the bias of spring 32. This socketrotation from normal position involves upward rotation of the lowerinner end of the socket, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4. Accessory10 is equipped with signalling means 44 for signalling this rotation ofthe socket from normal position, as will be explained presently.

The present fishing accessory or fishing rod holder may have varioustypes of support means for supporting the holder in fishing position.For example, the support means might be designed for engagement with amating part in a boat. In the particular inventive embodiment shown, thesupport means 34 comprises a ground stake 46 in the form of an angleiron. The lower end of the stake is pointed at 48 so that it may bedriven into the ground. The upper end of the stake extends along andcradles one side of the body 12, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3. Anattachment screw 50 extends through a hole in the body wall and a holein the upper end of stake 34 and is secured to the body by a nut 52. Awingnut 54 is threaded on the outer end of the screw to releasablysecure the upper stake end to the body. Welded to and extending acrossthe channel in the stake 34 below the lower end of the body 12 is astrap 56. This strap is bent and shaped to provide a lug 58 whichengages over a lip 60 on the body to releasably secure the stake to thelower end of the body.

In the particular inventive embodiment shown, lip 60 is furnished by anend cap 62 which is removabiy fitted within the lower end of the body12. The cap is retained in position by a pin 64 (shown in cross section)and a cooperating angular location slot (not shown) in body 12. Body 12,socket 114, and cap 62 may be constructed of any suitable material butare preferably constructed of a strong plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride. The ground stake 34 is metal. It is evident from thedescription to this point and the drawings that the stake is removablefrom the holder body by removing the wingnut 54. This constitutes animportant feature of the invention in that it permits the stake to bepounded into the ground without danger of damage to the remainder of theaccessory.

signalling means illustrated comprises an electrically poweredsignalling circuit. This circuit includes an alarm lamp 66, an alarmbuzzer or bell 68, an electrical switch means in the form of contacts70, 72 and a battery 74, and conductors 76 electrically connecting thealarms 66, 68, contacts 70, 72, and battery 74 in a manner such that thealarms are energized by engagement of the contacts. Contact 70 isattached to the body 12. Contact 72 is attached to lower inner end ofsocket 14 so that the contacts are spaced when the socket is in normalposition. Rotation of the socket from normal position engages thecontact 72 with the contact 70 to energize the alarms. The alarm lamp656 is threaded in the body 12 and may be enclosed in a small glass orplastic cover 78. Alarm buzzer or bell 68 is fixed within a centralopening in the body end cap 62. Battery 74 is mounted within a holder 80attached to the inner side of the alarm 68 for removal with the end cap22 from the body 12 to permit replacement of the battery. The wireconductors of the signalling circuit are made long enough to permit thisremoval.

In use, the ground stake 34 is driven into the ground to support thefishing accessory in its fishing position of FIG. 1. The fishing rodhandle 36 is inserted into the holder socket 14. The socket bias spring32 is adjusted by the screw 26 to the proper tension to maintain thesocket in normal position until a fish strikes the bait. This actioncreates a tug on the fishline 42 which rotates the socket from itsnormal position to close the contacts 70, 72 and thereby energize thealarms 66, 68. The fishing rod 38 may then be removed from the socket 14to pull in the fish.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

l. A fishing accessory for holding a fishing rod and signalling a fishbite, comprising:

an outer tubular body having an open normally upper end,

an inner tubular socket within said body and having an open normallyupper end projecting through said open body end,

the outer diameter of said socket being less than the inner diameter ofsaid body, whereby said socket fits loosely in the body, pivot pinspivotally connecting said body and socket on a transverse pivotaxisadjacent said open body end and located between the ends of said socket,whereby said socket is rotatable on said pivot axis relative to saidbody,

spring means acting between said body and socket for yieldably urgingsaid socket in one direction about said pivot axis to a normal positionrelative to said body,

support means for supporting said body in a generally upright fishingposition with said socket uppermost and opening upwardly to receive thehandle of a fishing rod in a manner such that a tug on the fishing lineof said rod tends to rotate said socket on said pivot axis from saidnormal socket position against the bias of said spring means, and

signalling means for signalling rotation of said socket from said normalposition.

2. A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein:

the open upper end of said socket is bevelled to facilitate insertion ofthe fishing rod handle into said socket.

3. A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein:

said spring means comprises an adjustment screw threaded in the wall ofsaid body on a transverse axis intersecting the inner normally lower endof said socket, and a spring engaging between the inner end of saidscrew and the inner end of said socket; and

said screw is adjustable to adjust the thrust of said spring againstsaid socket.

4. A fishing accessory according to claim 3 wherein:

said socket includes a transverse member at said inner socket end havinga cavity opening laterally toward and receiving the inner end of saidadjustment screw, and

said spring is positioned within said cavity between the inner end ofsaid screw and the bottom of said cavity.

5. A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein:

said signalling means comprises an electrical signalling circuitincluding an electrically actuated alarm on said body and electricalswitch means actuated by rotation of said socket from normal positionfor energizing said alarm.

6. A fishing accessory according to claim 5 wherein:

said switch means comprise electrical contacts on said body and theinner end of said socket which engage upon rotation of said socket fromnormal position.

7. A fishing accessory according to claim 6 wherein:

said body includes a removable end cap closing the normally lower end ofsaid body,

said signalling means includes a battery holder within said body betweensaid end cap and the inner end of said socket, and

said end cap is removable to place a battery in and remove the batteryfrom said holder.

8. A fishing accessory according to claim 7 wherein:

said battery holder is attached to said end cap and is removable fromsaid body with said end cap.

9. A fishing accessory according to claim 8 wherein:

said alarm is carried by said end cap.

10. A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein:

said body support means comprises a ground stake to be driven into theground, and releasable attachment means securing said stake to saidbody, whereby said stake may be removed from said body to facilitatedriving the stake into the ground.

11. A fishing accessory according to claim 10 wherein:

the normally upper end of said stake extends along and seats against oneside of said body and the normally lower end of said stake extendsbeyond the lower end of said body, and

said attachment means comprises a releasable fastener joining said upperstake end to said body and a lug on said stake engaging over an axiallyprojecting lip on the lower end of said body.

12. A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein:

the open upper end of said socket is bevelled to facilitate insertion ofthe fishing rod handle into said socket,

said spring means comprises an adjustment screw threaded in the wall ofsaid body on a transverse axis intersecting the inner normally lower endof said socket, and a spring engaging between the inner end of saidscrew and the inner end of said socket;

said screw is adjustable to adjust the thrust of said spring againstsaid socket,

said socket includes a transverse member at saidinner socket end havinga cavity opening laterally toward and receiving the inner end of saidadjustment screw,

said spring is positioned within said cavity between the inner end ofsaid screw and the bottom of said cavity,

said signalling means comprises an electrical signalling circuitincluding an electrically actuated alarm on said body and electricalswitch means actuated by rotation of said socket from nonnal positionfor energizing said alarm,

said switch means comprise electrical contacts on said body and theinner end of said socket which engage upon rotation of said socket fromnormal position,

said body includes a removable end cap closing the normally lower end ofsaid body,

said signalling means includes a battery holder within said body betweensaid end cap and the inner end of said socket,

said end cap is removable to place a battery in and remove the batteryfrom said holder,

said battery holder is attached to said end cap and is removable fromsaid body with said end cap,

said alarm is carried by said end cap,

said body support means comprises a ground stake to be driven into theground, and releasable attachment means securing said stake to saidbody, whereby said stake may be removed from said body tofacilitatedriving the stake into the ground,

the normally upper end of said stake extends along and seats against oneside of said body and the normally lower end of said stake extendsbeyond the lower end of said body, and

said attachment means comprises a releasable fastener join- 5 ing saidupper stake end to said body and a lug on said stake engaging over anaxially projecting lip on the lower end of said end cap.

1. A fishing accessory for holding a fishing rod and signalling a fishbite, comprising: an outer tubular body having an open normally upperend, an inner tubular socket within said body and having an opennormally upper end projecting through said open body end, the outerdiameter of said socket being less than the inner diameter of said body,whereby said socket fits loosely in the body, pivot pins pivotallyconnecting said body and socket on a transverse pivot axis adjacent saidopen body end and located between the ends of said socket, whereby saidsocket is rotatable on said pivot axis relative to said body, springmeans acting between said body and socket for yieldably urging saidsocket in one direction about said pivot axis to a normal positionrelative to said body, support means for supporting said body in agenerally upright fishing position with said socket uppermost andopening upwardly to receive the handle of a fishing rod in a manner suchthat a tug on the fishIng line of said rod tends to rotate said socketon said pivot axis from said normal socket position against the bias ofsaid spring means, and signalling means for signalling rotation of saidsocket from said normal position.
 2. A fishing accessory according toclaim 1 wherein: the open upper end of said socket is bevelled tofacilitate insertion of the fishing rod handle into said socket.
 3. Afishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: said spring meanscomprises an adjustment screw threaded in the wall of said body on atransverse axis intersecting the inner normally lower end of saidsocket, and a spring engaging between the inner end of said screw andthe inner end of said socket; and said screw is adjustable to adjust thethrust of said spring against said socket.
 4. A fishing accessoryaccording to claim 3 wherein: said socket includes a transverse memberat said inner socket end having a cavity opening laterally toward andreceiving the inner end of said adjustment screw, and said spring ispositioned within said cavity between the inner end of said screw andthe bottom of said cavity.
 5. A fishing accessory according to claim 1wherein: said signalling means comprises an electrical signallingcircuit including an electrically actuated alarm on said body andelectrical switch means actuated by rotation of said socket from normalposition for energizing said alarm.
 6. A fishing accessory according toclaim 5 wherein: said switch means comprise electrical contacts on saidbody and the inner end of said socket which engage upon rotation of saidsocket from normal position.
 7. A fishing accessory according to claim 6wherein: said body includes a removable end cap closing the normallylower end of said body, said signalling means includes a battery holderwithin said body between said end cap and the inner end of said socket,and said end cap is removable to place a battery in and remove thebattery from said holder.
 8. A fishing accessory according to claim 7wherein: said battery holder is attached to said end cap and isremovable from said body with said end cap.
 9. A fishing accessoryaccording to claim 8 wherein: said alarm is carried by said end cap. 10.A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: said body supportmeans comprises a ground stake to be driven into the ground, andreleasable attachment means securing said stake to said body, wherebysaid stake may be removed from said body to facilitate driving the stakeinto the ground.
 11. A fishing accessory according to claim 10 wherein:the normally upper end of said stake extends along and seats against oneside of said body and the normally lower end of said stake extendsbeyond the lower end of said body, and said attachment means comprises areleasable fastener joining said upper stake end to said body and a lugon said stake engaging over an axially projecting lip on the lower endof said body.
 12. A fishing accessory according to claim 1 wherein: theopen upper end of said socket is bevelled to facilitate insertion of thefishing rod handle into said socket, said spring means comprises anadjustment screw threaded in the wall of said body on a transverse axisintersecting the inner normally lower end of said socket, and a springengaging between the inner end of said screw and the inner end of saidsocket; said screw is adjustable to adjust the thrust of said springagainst said socket, said socket includes a transverse member at saidinner socket end having a cavity opening laterally toward and receivingthe inner end of said adjustment screw, said spring is positioned withinsaid cavity between the inner end of said screw and the bottom of saidcavity, said signalling means comprises an electrical signalling circuitincluding an electrically actuated alarm on said body and electricalswitch means actuated by rotation of said socket from noRmal positionfor energizing said alarm, said switch means comprise electricalcontacts on said body and the inner end of said socket which engage uponrotation of said socket from normal position, said body includes aremovable end cap closing the normally lower end of said body, saidsignalling means includes a battery holder within said body between saidend cap and the inner end of said socket, said end cap is removable toplace a battery in and remove the battery from said holder, said batteryholder is attached to said end cap and is removable from said body withsaid end cap, said alarm is carried by said end cap, said body supportmeans comprises a ground stake to be driven into the ground, andreleasable attachment means securing said stake to said body, wherebysaid stake may be removed from said body to facilitate driving the stakeinto the ground, the normally upper end of said stake extends along andseats against one side of said body and the normally lower end of saidstake extends beyond the lower end of said body, and said attachmentmeans comprises a releasable fastener joining said upper stake end tosaid body and a lug on said stake engaging over an axially projectinglip on the lower end of said end cap.